Share your ideas for Waratah Local Centre upgrade

City of Newcastle has begun community consultation with local residents and business owners to understand their views on how to improve safety, parking and public spaces in the Waratah Local Centre area.

Following input from the community, a public domain plan will be developed to guide the revitalisation of the area surrounding Station Street in Waratah.

Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said the future upgrade aims to create a more accessible, attractive and safe local centre for the Waratah community.

"Our public domain plan will upgrade the streetscape and improve access to shops, as well as address traffic and safety in the area," Cr Winney-Baartz said.

"Our upgrades often include new footpaths, trees and street furniture – so it's important that the community shares their feedback about what they would like to see.

“By improving the functionality, look and feel of the area we hope to see more people visiting and spending time at the local centre."

Last year the elected Council resolved to initiate an upgrade of the Waratah town centre, and a community survey was conducted in late 2021 for similar upgrades at Georgetown.

Once developed, the Waratah Local Centre draft public domain plan will go on public exhibition. The plan will be finalised based on community feedback and will go to the elected Council for approval, ahead of construction in coming years.

The planned upgrade at Waratah follows similar local centre upgrades at Carrington, Beresfield, Joslin Street in Kotara, Llewellyn Street in Merewether, James Street Plaza in Hamilton, and the upgrades currently under construction in Stockton, Shortland and at Orchardtown Road in New Lambton.

Have your say via the online survey at newcastle.nsw.gov.au/yoursay before 13 June.